Shane Connaughton

This Hallmark Hall of Fame offering stars Keith McErlean as Declan, a 30-year-old Irishman who is dying of AIDS. Remembering how he and his sister Helen (Gina McKee) once stayed with their grandmother Dora (Angela Lansbury) during their fathers' terminal illness, Declan concludes that Dora's place would be an excellent safe harbor for his own last few months on Earth. While Dora is a lovable eccentric blessed with wicked wit and boundless acceptance of the way things are, Declan's mother Lily (Dianne Wiest) is more aloof and conservative -- and she is deeply disturbed not only by her son's imminent demise, but also by the fact that she never knew he was gay. Adding to Lily's discomfiture is Helen's decision to briefly leave her husband and children to help Declan in his declining days...not to mention the arrival of her son's colorful gay friends Paul (Sam Robards) and Larry (Bryan O'Byrne). A moving tale of love and understanding "contemporary Irish" style, The Blackwater Lightship was first telecast February 4, 2004, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this intense, multi-layered British drama, the lives of three Irish young people living in London are painstakingly examined. The film's realistic presentation of London and all it's problems is notable. The profiled three are friends, Mickey, Mary, and Bimbo. They came to London from Dublin filled with dreams of a better life. Mary is pregnant and the child is apparently Bimbo's. The three separate and each face the grueling realities of London life. The city, though diverse, is not particularly accepting of outsiders and each character will go through similar struggles as they learn about themselves and about life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

As the title of this British miniseries indicates, Murder in Eden had very little to do with the Old Testament. The central character was an Irish pub owner, who, in a fit of anger, killed his barman. Though convinced that he had covered up his tracks, the pub owner found himself being blackmailed by a person who may or may not have witnessed the crime. Debuting July 19, 1991 on the BBC, Murder in Eden ran for three 50-minute episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An alternative to the general run of "triumph over the odds" biopics, My Left Foot is the true story of Irish cerebral palsy victim Christy Brown. Paralyzed from birth, Brown (played by Hugh O'Conor as child and Daniel Day-Lewis as an adult) is written off as retarded and helpless. But Christy's indomitable mother (Brenda Fricker) never gives up on the boy. Using his left foot, the only part of his body not afflicted, Brown learns to write. He grows up to become a well-known author, painter, and fundraiser, and along the way falls in love with nurse Mary Carr (Ruth McCabe). There's no sugarcoating in My Left Foot: Brown, a heavy drinker, was by no means lovable. Day-Lewis and Fricker both won Academy Awards for their performances, and the film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Also notable are the late Ray McAnally in his next-to-last film role as Christy's father, and venerable Cyril Cusack as Lord Castlewelland. Director Jim Sheridan co-scripted with Shane Connaughton from Christy Brown's autobiography. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The setting of Mike Leigh's Four Days in July is Belfast in the mid-'80s, just before the annual July 12th march of The Orangemen to celebrate the 17th century victory of the Protestant William of Orange over the Catholic King John II. Two couples prepare to have their first child. Collette (Brid Brennan) and Eugene (Desmond McAleer) are Catholic, while Lorraine (Paula Hamilton) and Billy (Charles Lawson) are Protestant. Eugene is injured and awaiting a disability check, so he has time to dote on his pregnant wife. Billy is in the military, and when he's not manning checkpoints, he hangs out with his fellow soldiers, Big Billy (Brian Hogg) and Little Billy (Adrian Gordon). On the 11th, as the celebrations and bonfires are being prepared, Brendan (Shane Connaughton, who later co-wrote the script for My Left Foot) comes by to fix Collette and Eugene's toilet. Then an old friend of Brendan's, Dixie (Stephen Rea), comes by to clean the building's windows. The four of them sit around for a while and chat. The upcoming marches are a sore spot that is briefly alluded to, and Eugene reveals that his injuries were suffered at the hands of the British military. Lorraine goes with Billy to a bonfire, where there's drinking, singing, and high spirits. The next morning, both women go into labor and are brought to the same hospital. In the waiting room, Eugene strikes up a conversation with Billy. Four Days in July was the last film Leigh made for the BBC and one of the first films scored by composer Rachel Portman. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide